Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1887-09-28
Prohibition Convention.

Prohibition Convention.
ACTION ILL-ADvIsED- or
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. PAR TY- NOT
WHAT WAS EXPECTED.
According to appointment, the state
Prohibition Convention was held in this
city on last Friday, and it organized the
neucleus of third party by adopting
platform and plan of State organi cation !;
and those who supposed it was to be SIM
plv a prohibition party were very much
mistaken, for prohibition forms but one
small plank in the platform adopted, that
being the second section, and all the others
are mere general expressions in reference
to political questions used adj captonddm
to gain the support 1of all dissatisfied Gle
ments in the body polite. Those who gave
this movement their sympathy and support
under the impression that it would be a
non-political party, find themselves most
egregiously mistaken. The ministers and
many others thought it was to be a party
that would be free from politics-that it
would have but one object and that the
abolition of. the liquor trafio-when it is,
in fact, nothing more than third political
party, which casts its net for all sorts of
fishes; and the catch will consist chriefy of
gudgeons. To change the metaphor. it is
a sort of octopus, or devil-fish with its
many long arms extended in all directions
to grasp in it's fatal embrace any victims
that may be reached. 1t will be observed
that the latter part of the 3rd and the
whole of the Attn section look to gaining the
support of that element which is now or
ganizing what they call an "American par
ty.'' The 9Th, the support of those who
belong to the labor union party, and also
the farmers who are organizing to protect
their interests. The 9th, the friends of the
Blair bill. The 7th, those who are dissat-
isfied with the legislation on the public
debt. The 9Th, those-and who are not
opposed to bossism and corrupt lobbyism.
IF all these elements should join, it would
make strong party. But will they do it ?
Nay, verify If this is not a political par
ty, we should like to know what constitutes
political party. 1t is, unfortunately for
the temperance cause in this State, especi-
ally at this time, not temperance, but
politico. prohibition party. The effect will
be to divide and weaken the friends of tenn
perance in this State. 1t will be the throw
ing of an apple of discord In their ranks.
1t will place the temperance men in an in
defeusible attitude. They petitioned few
years ago both of the great political parties
in this State to favor the plan Of local OPP
ton, and earnestly prayed for its success.
Their prayers were answered and their Pc
tition granted. And now they are asked
to stultify themselves by saying-or rather
by action which is much stronger than
speech-that they do mot want what they
earnestly prayed for. Almost as soon as
they obtained that for which they prayed,
which is working as satisfactorily for the
success of temperance as tie most sangulne
of reasonable men could have expected,
they are 10 spurn and spit upon the very
object of their prayers, and say they do
want local option, but prohibition-no, not
prohibition merely, but a third political
party with prohibition as one small plank
in its platform.
This movement is ill-advised, and will
not fail to impede, if it will not wholly
prevent the success of the temperance
cause, and the final overthrow of the Ii
quor traffic in this State. Having heard all
that was said in the Prohibition Conven-
ton in favor of the establishment Of this
politico- prohibition party, our views in OPP
position to it, as expressed at some length
in our last issue, are unchanged, except
that they are rather intensified, as it is to
be more of political party than we sup
posed. 1t has objections that we did not
then anticipate.
In our local columns we give fair and
impartial report of the proceedings of the
convention, and as full as our space would
allow, to which we invite the attention of
our raadpra